Monday, 30 November 2015

Spider Iggy

No one ever seems
to notice Spider Iggy. He tries to be
noticed and make friends but with no success.
All the while, he dreams of a place filled with colour and light and
spiders like him. Determined to leave
his old life behind, he sets off on an adventure to find a place where he fits
in. To find a place he can call home.

Spider Iggy is the latest picture book by award-winning Australian
author Aleesah Darlison. It is a lovely
book that encompasses themes of acceptance, belonging and bravery.

We meet Spider
Iggy as he attempts to engage with and befriend those around him. Despite all his best efforts he is routinely
shunned which makes him unhappy - a situation that many young children can
relate to. It is this that drives him to
find a place where he belongs; friends that accept him; to follow his dreams.

It’s this message
that I particularly love: Spider Iggy remains true to himself and goes in
search of where he belongs, rather than change himself in order to be
accepted. It is not an easy journey as
he faces many dangers as well as people and creatures that reject him on
sight. He does not give up, and listens
as the wind whispers, ‘Be brave’. This
is a great message for young children as they learn how to be a part of the
world around them: be who you are, be brave.

Spider Iggy is
brought to life by the artwork of Sarah Jane Hinder. Each full-page illustration is bold and
playful. There is an upbeat quality that
lends itself well to the positive message of the story.

Aleesah Darlison
is an award-winning author who has published over twenty picture books and
novels for children of all ages. Her
stories cover such themes as courage, anti-bullying, friendship and
self-belief. When she isn’t writing
she’s looking after her four children or taking her dog, Floyd, for long walks
on the beach. She can be found online
at: http://www.aleesahdarlison.com/